Unisa Little Theatre

03/04/2026

01/04/2026

A Night of Powerful Stories, Courage, and Community at the Unisa Little Theatre.

The Unisa Little Theatre proudly welcomed an extraordinary event presented by Innate Reflexions, celebrating the timeless art of African storytelling and the strength of community voices.

The theatre came alive with compelling documentaries created by talented local storytellers, shedding light on real challenges faced by communities, particularly around service delivery and crime. These stories were not only informative, but deeply moving, sparking conversation, reflection, and connection among audience members.

Powerful guest speakers shared their personal journeys of resilience, courage, and perseverance, reminding us all that even in the face of hardship, hope and determination can lead to meaningful change.

The evening was beautifully complemented by vibrant live performances, showcasing the richness of local talent and the transformative power of the performing arts.

Events like these remind us why the arts matter. They give communities a voice, create understanding, and inspire action.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Innate Reflexions, the storytellers, performers, and everyone who joined for this impactful and memorable experience.

The Unisa Little Theatre continues to be a home for stories that matter and a stage for voices that deserve to be heard.

27/03/2026

The Unisa Little Theatre proudly celebrates World Theatre Day, recognising the power of performance to inspire, educate and bring communities together.
Today we honour the artists, technicians, storytellers and audiences who keep theatre alive and thriving.

19/03/2026

Every great production begins before the curtain rises. Our foyer and front of house ensure your audience is welcomed into a polished, professional environment. Book your next event at the Unisa Little Theatre.

17/03/2026

Bring your production to life at the Unisa Little Theatre. Bookings and enquiries now open.

17/03/2026

From vibrant dance productions to captivating performances, our stage has been home to countless memorable moments. Whether you are a performer, organiser, or audience member, the Little Theatre is where creativity comes to life.

For bookings and enquiries please contact us to bring your next production to life at the Unisa Little Theatre.

04/08/2025

🎭 Pretoria is buzzing with creativity! The ATKV Tienertoneel Theatre Festival is in full swing at the UNISA Little Theatre — a powerful celebration of young storytellers, actors, designers, and dreamers all connected through the theme of symbiosis.

🌟 What’s happening?
Over 380 young artists are taking the stage — not only as actors but also as writers, set designers, lighting technicians, stage managers, and even marketers. After each performance, professional theatre mentors like André Lötter and Liezl de K**k guide participants with valuable feedback and insight.

✨ The heartbeat of the festival?
The theme symbiosis – where audience, performers, and story become one. It’s an inspiring and electric experience that merges education with artistry, creativity with discipline.

Expect:

👥 Performances that show off young South African talent in all its diversity

💡 Mentor sessions that inspire and uplift

🌍 A vibrant, collaborative space where stories come alive

Come be moved. Come be amazed. Come experience the next generation of theatre-makers shaping the stage — right here in the heart of Pretoria.

🎉 Don’t miss it!

ATKV-Tienertoneel het gehore met hul magnetiese toneelspel in Pretoria betower!

05/08/2024

A debit card was discovered in the parking lot of the Unisa Little Theatre on the morning of Saturday, 3rd August, following the ATKV Teienertoneel competition. If this card belongs to you, please contact [email protected].

05/04/2024

🎭 Embracing Tradition: Unisa Little Theatre, Where History Meets Modernity! 🏛️✨

Step into a world of timeless elegance and cultural significance at the Unisa Little Theatre, a cherished landmark with roots tracing back to 1941! 🎩🌟 Since its inception, our theatre has been a cornerstone of artistic excellence and community engagement.

🏛️ Originally erected in 1941, the Unisa Little Theatre stands as a testament to architectural grandeur and enduring craftsmanship. In 1995, it was lovingly embraced by the University of South Africa (UNISA), marking a new chapter in its illustrious history.
🎭 From its humble beginnings to its transformation under the University of South Africa's stewardship, our theatre has remained a bastion of creativity and inspiration, fostering the talents of performers and patrons alike.
🎬 Today, as we honor our rich heritage, we invite you to join us in celebrating the union of tradition and modernity that defines the Unisa Little Theatre.

🎟️ Immerse yourself in the magic of history and artistry. Reserve your space now by contacting us at 012 484 1232 or email [email protected].

Experience the timeless allure of the Unisa Little Theatre, where every performance resonates with the echoes of the past and the promise of the future! 🎭🕰️

20/03/2020

"In theatre we have a tradition – whenever the theatre is empty, we are always sure to leave one light on. Typically on a stand in the centre of the stage, this light is known as the ghost light. There are many stories about its origin, but its meaning is unmistakable. It means though the theatre is empty, we will return." - Tamzin Outhwaite

25/09/2019

The first theatre in South Africa with the grandMA 3 Light lighting console. Providing better service for our clients. What a great privilege. Thanks DWR Distribution for this article.

grandMA3 for Little Theatre

The Little Theatre, based at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, has upgraded to a grandMA3 light console as the theatre moves into its dance season, hosting various performances from ballet to contemporary.

“Although our previous console served us well, it was over nine years old,” explains Technical Manager Leon Rossouw. “We were having issues with updating fixture libraries and the start-up time for the console was time-consuming. Software updates were no longer rolled out as the console had been discontinued a few years back already and some of the hardware was also giving me major hassles.”

In 2010, the Little Theatre decided to focus on promoting theatres in schools and youth groups instead of being a money generating playhouse. While their main clientele consists of private dance studios, schools and drama groups they also host various performing art competitions and Eisteddfods. A number of live acts and production companies use the theatre for music videos, live performances and album launches. Apart from that, the theatre has hosted some of Unisa’s most prolific colloquiums, book launches, seminars, debates and other events.

“As the Little Theatre rarely host shows that run for more than a week, and from time to time even run three separate shows in the same week, there is not much room for things to go wrong or break down,” said Leon, who with Theatre Manager Jan Steyn are the only permanent staff at the venue.

Leon confesses that he was a complete newbie to the MA platform! “Even when I had the opportunity to have an MA in front of me, it was mainly as an operator or doing minor tweaks here and there, it just always worked out that way,” he explains. “But the transformation from our previous console to the MA3 was extremely smooth. I would really like to thank Victor Vermaak from DWR Distribution for initially arranging a demonstration and for assisting me with the quotations. He did an awesome job! Thank you also to the incredible technical support I received from Jannie de Jager and Olebogeng Boinamo. It has been a joy dealing with DWR.”

The ‘MA rookie’ found the console easy enough to operate and all the features were logical. “There are a number of ways to do the same thing, and as I tried techniques that made sense to me, the console would just go with it!” Leon explains.

Having experimented with the new grandMA3 light, the dual-encoders have proven to be a handy feature especially during programming, and according to Leon, the console works like a charm even in Mode 2. “The letterbox screens are features I don’t know how I ever did without,” he grins. “Having everything close by and adapting to settings during programming makes it a real pleasure to work on. Although I am still operating our shows in Mode 2, I have played around in Mode 3 and personally feel that the rotary k***s are going to be very useful. There is also a feature for assigning the path of travel for movers which I’m very excited about. Many productions are dependent on moving lights following a specific path when going from one cue to the next or even in loops or chases. In the past, this would take me quite some time to set up.”

Having spent some time presenting training at the Little Theatre, Jannie de Jager noticed that Leon was passionate about sharing his knowledge with students. “Leon is very pro-education and it’s wonderful to see,” said Jannie. Leon regularly encourages students from schools to operate and light their own performances and now he is introducing them to the MA Platform. “For the youngsters, the colour changing light pipes on the executors is one of the coolest features!” he added.

Victor Vermaak sums it all up, “Leon is hands-on, heading both lighting and audio at The Little Theatre. He is a theatre person through and through and it’s exciting to see his passion and skill being passed down to the next generation. That’s what it’s all about.”

Caption:

Leon Rossouw, Technical Manager at The Little Theatre, UNISA.